Photos from Transfer Week and Downtown!

Benjamin's last day in Hayward - eating dinner at President Tam's home. He will miss these fine people.

Meeting his new companion, Elder Ho and visiting with a missionary from the Spanish speaking area before he went on his way to his new companionship.

The basking sea lions from Finding Dory - Benjamin visited Pier 39 for P-Day and is realizing how different downtown is going to be from Hayward.

The Bridge - he has never been here before.  I am guessing that if he spends much time here, he will leave a part of his heart here just like the song says.

Elder Ho and Elder Butters embarking on their first week together.

The city from far away -

Posing for the camera with new friends, in a new place with a new calling and being senior companion too!  Lots of change for this boy this week.

Gorgeous photo!

Downtown San Fran - What a Change!

Wow! That's pretty much all that I can say about my first week in San Francisco! What a completely different place to what I was used to in Hayward. Its been non-stop adventure, non-stop learning, and non-stop memories and miracles since I left the transfer van Tuesday morning!

This week has been a busy one, with a lot to get used to all at once. Elder Ho has been very patient with me and is very willing to help me along and do a little bit of translation here and there, which I do need at times! He is a very hard-working missionary. He is from Hong Kong, and has been in San Francisco for almost as long as I was in Hayward. Least to say, he knows the bus and BART (train) system like the back of his hand! Cool thing, we are in a bus area, so we use public transport everyday to get everywhere in this crazy city! That's the first thing, there are SO MANY PEOPLE EVERYWHERE! We've met some crazy people while street contacting, including the most buff 70-year-old I have ever seen, who flipped upside down a few hundred times on a playground monkey-bar for our enjoyment. 

We have experienced some real miracles as a companionship this week. We spent most of the week street contacting in Chinatown (I was there my FIRST DAY!) and other parts of the area, and I love the feeling of the city! I love that there's always someone around the corner, and that there's always energy.

Regardless, we started up a new English Class at our Sunset chapel on Saturday, and a man named Han Xi An attended. He had called Elder Ho and I the night before asking if we were still planning on having class, and he walked in very excited and very prepared to learn some English. The turnout was small, and we had to start from the VERY beginning and basics of the language (we only made it through letters A-E in the hour), but afterwards, we showed the students a Bible video. Bro. Han had a LOT of questions following the film, mostly about who Jesus Christ was and primarily, baptism. We gave him a basic explanation, and invited him to come to church the next day. He accepted the invitation, and even brought his wife along to all three meetings! It was wonderful! We have an official appointment with them tonight, so we are hoping to keep the momentum going with the pair of them!
What's more, last night, at around 8:30, we were contacting potential investigators from our files in our area book. Elder Ho called one woman, and they ended up having a 30 minute phone conversation all about missionary life. At the last minute, we were able to share some doctrine with her and make an appointment to meet with her later in the week! Miracles are so real!

Many of you have been asking about my new calling... Its been a definite change, but our district is doing well, and seeing just as many miracles among our companionships as Elder Ho and I were apart of this week. The Spanish Elders had three baptisms this weekend, which was unbelievable! Our District Meeting went really well. It was on the importance of Listening as a teaching skill, and I was studying and prepping for it for most of the week (least to say, I was pretty nervous...), but everyone seemed to really enjoy the training prepared and took it very seriously. I learned that the Spirit is just as real and effective in role-play as much as it is in a "real world" situation. I'm still making some adjustments to the new position of District Leader, but so far, I'm enjoying it.

I love you all and am grateful that I get to share with you all of the craziness that is my new area and my mission! Have an amazing week!

Wo Ai NiMen!

Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)

Photos from Week 38 (A Box Arrives)

A little love and happiness from home arrived this week!

Elaine's chickens have grown so big - we feed them worms that we catch and flies that we swat.

A little light reading - a new favorite!

Benjamin leads the choir in his branch - Ms. Brooke's teachings live on even in San Francisco.

Music means so much to him and he loves teaching others this way of worshipping.

Transfer to San Fran and a New Calling!

NiHao Everybody!

This week has literally flown by! Elder Tung and I can hardly believe we are already facing the end of the transfer. 

Elder Tung was a little under the weather at times this week, so one night was a little less than effective by way of proselyting. However, we made up for it with a cool story that happened. One night while we were on our bikes contacting potential investigators, we were walking down the street, and were stopped by a young man who recognized us as missionaries, and called us over to the door he was standing in front of. Turns out, he was a BYU student and RM who is here selling Pest Control for the summer (typical...), and he was in the middle of talking with a customer who must've spotted us and asked about what we do as missionaries. Angela is from Nigeria and is Catholic, but had great respect for what we as missionaries do. Elder Tung and I were able to share a brief portion of the Restoration and the doctrine of Prayer with her, and left her with a pamphlet. Afterward, we then continued to talk to Blake (the salesman) a little bit about his own mission in Russia. He was fully engaged in teaching her as well, and I think was very excited to be so involved in missionary work again. Another night, we found a woman who invited us to be actors in her self-produces 3D movies, and then gave us peaches from her backyard tree, unfortunately all covered in bird poop...lovely.

Anyway, some more miracles; we had some very well attended English classes this week, as well as a lot of service opportunities. We picked goji berries with Sis. Ye and plucked wheat with Elaine. We also had better attendance at the finding activities we've been having recently. One of our regulars to our Game Night invited a friend, which was great to see he felt comfortable enough to do so. He loved playing MaJiang with the rest of us, and I actually won a game this time! The work in the Chinese program definitely works at a slow but sure pace, I guess. Its at times difficult to be patient enough to remember that!

Well, like I said, the transfer is over, and I have BIG news....after a 30 week stay in Hayward, I'm being transferred! I leave for SAN FRANCISCO tomorrow morning to serve with Elder Ho in the Chinese Area on the peninsula. As if that wasn't enough of a change, I've also been asked to serve as a District Leader! CRAZY things are happening right now, and it is definitely a time of change. Excitement and nerves are running rampant! I will miss my Union City 3rd Branch terribly, but am looking forweard to a change of scene and pace.

Have an amazing week! I'm excited to share with all of you the on-goings of my first week in the Bay! Remember always that you are a child of God!

Wo Ai NiMen

Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)

Fun Photos of Simply Good Times

Elder Ta'ua and Benjamin get put to work to earn their barbecue rib dinner at Bishop Patolo's home this week.  They were responsible for covering the ribs in barbecue sauce.

Two elders who were able to ride their bikes (with permission) outside of mission boundaries to run an errand - they were sure to mark the momentous occasion with a photo.

Learning and teaching MaJhong at Family Home Evening.  This is one very complicated game.

Elder Tung took out all his pent-up aggression on the giant weed outside of the apartment.  Benjamin said that he wouldn't want to try to grow again if Elder Tung had done this to him.

Week Thirty Seven - Sad and Glad

GeWei XiongDiJieMei Hao!

It is hard for me to believe that I am sitting here writing another weekly email. Time is flying for us in Hayward! Lots has happened this week, both bad and good. 

Firstly, the bad news: Bro. Wu and Sis. Fang decided to no longer meet with Elder Tung and I. We were "dropped." It was a real blow to both Elder Tung and I; they were doing so well and progressing so much in the gospel, and to see them let it all go was sad. I think though that Elder Tung really helped me have a good attitude about it, and to see it as more of an opportunity to find those who are truly ready for the gospel. Finding investigators has always been, and is still a challenge for the Chinese program in our mission, but we have a lot of plans to be out on our bikes this week contacting potentials and former investigators, so we really hope to find a new investigator. Fingers crossed! 

Speaking of finding, we did manage to run into a former earlier in the week, and set up an appointment to do some service with her last Friday. We chopped some of the massive vines that have grown into the fence surrounding her house. We hope to make some gospel progress with her upon our return visit next week.

Lots of fun things happened this last week, too! On Monday, we had a Zone Activity, with a whole bunch of crazy challenges. Lets just say, I had to scarf a bowl of Jell-o (not a fan...) and blow up a balloon with one breath (I won that one!) We also had another Branch FHE where Elder Tung and I prepared another round of "Jeopardy" for the game portion of the evening. We had some crazy hard questions and some really silly ones as well, a whole bunch involving the four missionaries of the branch. We were all dying of laughter. 

Finally the "apostate" portion of our week. I had a doctors appointment for a refill of a prescription, and that prescription was sent to a Walgreens in downtown Fremont....OUT OF THE MISSION!!! We had to receive special permission from Pres. Frandsen to bike out of the mission to pick it up. To think its the first time I've been out of mission boundaries since the MTC! A whole new world! It was fun! I also "learned" to play MaJiang, a popular Chinese game, at a game night we've been hosting in the hope of finding new investigators. There are so many rules, and it still doesn't quite make sense. Elder Tung tried his best to explain to me, but I'm still really rusty!

Have an amazing week! There are miracles all around if you look for them. I love you all and am so grateful for the love and support you show me in my service! Xia Ci Jian!

Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)

Photos from Week 36

The missionary bakes banana bread for his companions - yes, please.

The melody of Star Spangled Banner written out in Chinese form for the English class students. They used this version of the melody so they could sing along to the new words they were learning from the missionaries.

New pillowcase from Grandma Reynolds - one was sent for Elder Tung too.  Love that smile.

Thirty-six weeks and Busy (Or Not)!

DaJia Hao!

Hope you all had a great 4th of July and another fantastic summer week! This one has been a hodgepodge of busy, constant activity at times, and slower almost emptiness at others. 

Elder Tung and I spent most of our Independence Day on the road, biking around looking for potentials. In fact, because some names took a lot less time to contact than we initially thought, we biked almost our entire area! It involved a bike chain needing to be put back in place, but it was great to be out in the sun! 

The sense of national pride continued into English Class, where we began teaching our students "The Star-Spangled Banner." Boy, was that interesting. They were confused at times, but very excited to be doing something VERY different to what we typically do. One student ended up writing the melody of the song in Chinese written-form music so they could all sing along (somewhat better...). It made for a memorable class. 

We also had Zone Conference in San Francisco, my first time in the city! Pres. Frandsen talked to us all about remaining purpose driven as we serve, also sharing some very memorable thoughts on the Holy Ghost, which have really increased my desire to be more sensitive to the Spirit. He shared with us that miracles can happen as we rely on the Spirit. I really feel like that is something that I could work on. 

Some of the funny things of the week; Our bathroom doorknob broke and locked us out of our bathroom at 5:30 in the morning, right when we were trying to prepare for an early drive to the peninsula. Lets just say I'm really glad that no one was outside to see me on the porch that early....yeah, that's a memory I'll hold dear forever. Last P-Day, we also had a District activity. We played the "Newlywed Game," guessing answers to totally ridiculous questions Elder Tung came up with!

Our investigators are doing well. We're really going to be focusing on developing testimony with them this week! We've been seeing miracles happening in our mission lately, and we hope and pray to be apart of more!

Thank you for all your prayers and love and support of me out here in California! I love you all. Have an amazing week!

Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)

Camera-worthy graffiti!

Elder Tung and Benjamin both work magic in the kitchen - they are learning so many things beyond their caring for others.

An example of their dinners together!

Congee - a new favorite!  I have never eaten so much rice in my whole life!!

Working hard and getting organized at the mission office.

Lists and lists and appointments and charts and paper.....all in an effort to save God's children.

When you see this graffiti in Union City, you stop, get the camera, smile and take a picture!

Week 35 - Cooking Up Some Good Stuff!

DaJia Hao!

Can't believe we're already half-way through another transfer! Time at times goes at a snail's pace, but at other times it flies! 

This week was one in which I really had some great opportunities to feel the Spirit and teach from the heart. All of our investigators are progressing and showing a willingness to keep commitments and do what is right, but there seems to be some obstacle that is keeping them from exercising their faith further. 

We met with our elderly couple, as per usual, again this week, and took the opportunity to teach from a conference talk, "But If Not" by Dennis E. Simmons. Elder Simmons talks about how when we express our faith in the Lord, we can have confidence that miracles will happen, but that there is always a possibility that they may not happen the exact way we think. Blessings truly come to the faithful, "but if not," we must continue to have faith in the Lord that whatever happens is for our good and is what needs to happen. It was an eye-opening experience for me studying that talk and sharing my feelings about it in a lesson with them. What's better, is that Elder Tung and I experienced the same lesson that we were trying to teach them. After challenging them to be baptized and use their faith to overcome their challenges, our investigators again declined, putting it off until their lives in America are more secure. That was my "but if not." We had done everything right; we had fasted all day, prayed, and done extensive planning, but our desired outcome was still not achieved. I now can choose whether or not to let this one experience cripple my faith, or continue to strive to work and use my faith that one day, the outcomes we desire will be achieved. It made for a great day! A blessing that came from our effort; all three of them showed up to church! YAY! 

We were also able to meet with one of our less active members as well, and challenged him to use his faith as well. We also talked to him about the blessings we receive upon fasting for specific purposes. We wish Jerry the best of luck this week, as he is about to take his massive Accounting CPA exam! Monday night had us taking a MASSIVE bike ride into Fremont, the south of our area, to meet up with another less-active. After he told us he no longer wanted to be contacted, we walked home and enjoyed the night. It was pleasant!

On Thursday, I went on exchanges with one of our Zone Leaders, Elder Tu'ua, a great missionary. We spent most of the day doing service, first scrubbing the wooden balcony of an elderly woman, and then helping one of the Union City 1st members move (his house smelled SO BAD, and his mattress was heavy and disgusting.....but I didn't tell you that, ok?). We also taught English class, and our students began learning "The Star-Spangled Banner" at their own request. That should make for a pretty fun 4th of July week for us! Its probably the most patriotic thing we will get to do all day!

Elder Tung has also been teaching me some more magic in the kitchen. He taught me to make Congee, a rice porridge, which is now one of my favorite foods! Looks like I'll be eating Chinese for the 4th (still can't believetomorrow is the 4th. Holidays practically don't exist for missionaries...) 

Have a fantastic day tomorrow, and remember our Heavenly Father and all the amazing things He does for us and our country! I also challenge each of you to do your best and have faith, even when the "but if nots" come up!

Love,

Elder Butters (Bao ZhangLao)